Is the use of sentient animals in basic research justifiable?

Table 1 Distribution of NIH Support of Extramural Research Among Humans, Laboratory Mammals, and Other Research Subjects, Expressed as Percentages of Total Dollars and of Total Projects and Subprojects.^a

Subject	Fiscal Year Research Dollars, %	Extramural	Total Projects And Subprojects, %
Humans	1977	27.5	32.4
	1978	26.8	31.2
	1979	26.8	29.2
	1980	25.0	28.9
	1981	23.8	29.7
	1982	23.2	31.5
	1983	22.9	32.2
Mammals	1977	43.5	41.9
	1978	44.0	42.5
	1979	44.9	43.8
	1980	45.0	44.2
	1981	47.3	44.1
	1982	48.1	43.5
	1983	47.9	42.7
Other^b	1977	29.4	25.6
	1978	29.3	26.3
	1979	28.2	27.0
	1980	29.8	26.9
	1981	28.9	26.0
	1982	28.7	25.0
	1983	29.2	25.1

^aUnpublished information provided by Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.
^bThis category includes invertebrates, nonmammalian vertebrates, bacteria, viruses, mathematical and computer simulations, and other subjects.

ISSN: 1747-5341